Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.

Sixty-seven percent say they believe that the entire story of Christmas--the Virgin Birth, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men from the East--is historically accurate. Twenty-four percent of Americans believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention written to affirm faith in Jesus Christ, the poll shows. In general, say 55 percent of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate. Thirty-eight percent do not believe that about the Bible.

In the NEWSWEEK poll, 93 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus Christ actually lived and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Fifty-two percent of all those polled believe, as the Bible proclaims, that Jesus will return to earth someday; 21 percent do not believe it. Fifteen percent believe Jesus will return in their lifetime; 47 percent do not, the poll shows.

When asked if there would be more or less kindness in the world today if there had never been a Jesus, 61 percent of all those polled say there would be less kindness. Forty-seven percent say there would be more war if there had never been a Jesus (16 percent say less, 26 percent say the same); 63 percent say there would be less charity; 58 percent say there would be less tolerance; 59 percent say there would be less personal happiness and 38 percent say there would be less religious divisions (21 percent say more and 26 percent say the same).

Just 11 percent of those surveyed say American society as a whole very closely reflects true Christian values and the spirit of Jesus; 53 percent say it somewhat reflects those values. But 86 percent say they believe organized religion has a "a lot" or "some" influence over life in the United States today. Nine percent say it has "only a little" influence.

Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.

Sixty-seven percent say they believe that the entire story of Christmas--the Virgin Birth, the angelic proclamation to the shepherds, the Star of Bethlehem and the Wise Men from the East--is historically accurate. Twenty-four percent of Americans believe the story of Christmas is a theological invention written to affirm faith in Jesus Christ, the poll shows. In general, say 55 percent of those polled, every word of the Bible is literally accurate. Thirty-eight percent do not believe that about the Bible.

In the NEWSWEEK poll, 93 percent of Americans say they believe Jesus Christ actually lived and 82 percent believe Jesus Christ was God or the Son of God. Fifty-two percent of all those polled believe, as the Bible proclaims, that Jesus will return to earth someday; 21 percent do not believe it. Fifteen percent believe Jesus will return in their lifetime; 47 percent do not, the poll shows.

When asked if there would be more or less kindness in the world today if there had never been a Jesus, 61 percent of all those polled say there would be less kindness. Forty-seven percent say there would be more war if there had never been a Jesus (16 percent say less, 26 percent say the same); 63 percent say there would be less charity; 58 percent say there would be less tolerance; 59 percent say there would be less personal happiness and 38 percent say there would be less religious divisions (21 percent say more and 26 percent say the same).

Just 11 percent of those surveyed say American society as a whole very closely reflects true Christian values and the spirit of Jesus; 53 percent say it somewhat reflects those values. But 86 percent say they believe organized religion has a "a lot" or "some" influence over life in the United States today. Nine percent say it has "only a little" influence.

Other than the teaching creation I'm not very surprised. The US is very religious, and very predominatly Christian (of one type or another).

There is much debate over whether that is a good thing or not, but it really shouldn't be surprising to anybody.

Personally I think evolution should be taught in science classes, it is science after all. But the teachers should keep in mind that many, if not most, of their students already believe in a different theory/hypothesis/story. Just as a teacher trying to preach Christianity in class is out of line, a teacher that deliberately attacks the religious beliefs of students in the class is out of line. Evolution can be taught without attacking a belief in a creator.

I guess that last paragraph belonged on the evolution vs creation thread. Oh well.

the founding fathers decided America would be a place of freedom both of religion as well as from religion. Ergo church and state are seperated.

If you want to teach creation myth, then fine - but understand it isn't science and can't claim to be, neither can this broadside sneak-attack 'intelligent design'. In addition to that you have to give space to all of the various religions and creation myths, unless you want to declare America as only one faith.

If you want to turn the USA into a religious theocracy, start thinking about what happened the last time religion had that much power: salem witch-trials, the inquisition - and just incase you were wondering, a later example is afghanistan before y'all invaded

the founding fathers decided America would be a place of freedom both of religion as well as from religion. Ergo church and state are seperated.

So the rest of teh world has not done this? Or certain parts of the world haven't done it?

I think that state and religion are separted in my tiny country. Yet I dont hear people crying on the street that the creation myth should be thought in the biology class. Out of that I conclude I made an error somewhere, but I can't find it. Any help?

you hit on the problem exactly - church and state are seperated, yet fundies are demanding that their religious doctrine be taught in a science (ie non-religious) classroom.

That means they're demanding that their religion be state-sanctioned.

Nowhere else that seperates church and state (and in most places where they don't) is a creation myth taught as science. It might be taught, yes, but not as science.

It's not fair and objectioned, it's religious bigotry. If they want to even appear as being fair then they'd have to start teaching all the other creation myths too, at least without burning proof that christianity actually has the answer.

you hit on the problem exactly - church and state are seperated, yet fundies are demanding that their religious doctrine be taught in a science (ie non-religious) classroom.

That means they're demanding that their religion be state-sanctioned.

Nowhere else that seperates church and state (and in most places where they don't) is a creation myth taught as science. It might be taught, yes, but not as science.

It's not fair and objectioned, it's religious bigotry. If they want to even appear as being fair then they'd have to start teaching all the other creation myths too, at least without burning proof that christianity actually has the answer.

Well, keep in mind that plenty of creationnists argue that the evidence points to creation, and all the theories about an old Earth or evolution are the self-delusions of atheists who don't want to believe in creation...So, in their opinion, it is science.
And then there are the ones who say Satan created the fossils. That's another story.

Well, keep in mind that plenty of creationnists argue that the evidence points to creation, and all the theories about an old Earth or evolution are the self-delusions of atheists who don't want to believe in creation...

Of course, there is also the point that even if it is conceded that there IS a supreme creating deity, it does NOT logically follow that this deity is necessarily the same one that you, the creationists, profess to know all about.

Well, keep in mind that plenty of creationnists argue that the evidence points to creation, and all the theories about an old Earth or evolution are the self-delusions of atheists who don't want to believe in creation...

Of course, there is also the point that even if it is conceded that there IS a supreme creating deity, it does NOT logically follow that this deity is necessarily the same one that you, the creationists, profess to know all about.

Um, when you say "you", who're you refferring to? Because I'm not a creationnist myself.